Note: In certain recording situations, you may need a separate power
source for your microphones. Visit our Battery
Module FAQ for more info on why you would want to use a battery module.
If you are planning on recording loud sounds (like an amplified rock concert,
for example), please read the Battery
Module FAQ for details on making recordings of loud sounds.

Binaural recordings are two channel recordings created by placing two
Omnidirectional microphones in or as close to the ears as is practical.
Using this technique, the location information contained in the frequency,
amplitude and phase responses of the left and right channels closely match
the cues required by the human auditory system to localize sound sources.
Positioned in this way, these Binaural microphones accurately capture
sonic information coming from all directions and will produce extremely
realistic recordings when listened to through headphones.

These microphones can also be used in a standard stereo configuration
by placing them approximately 12" to 24" apart, away from your head. This
configuration provides excellent stereo imaging for listening through
loudspeakers or headphones.

Battery modules (power supplies)
In certain recording situations, you may need a separate power source
for your microphones. Using these mics with a battery module will allow
the recordist to utilize the line input of their recorder instead
of the mic input in loud recording situations. In addition, the higher
voltage supplied by the battery/filter module increases the dynamic range
of the microphones and allows recordings to be made with high sound pressure
levels without distortion or clipping. Since the battery module and microphones
are purchased separately, one battery module can be used for several different
mic sets. Visit our Battery
Module FAQ for more info on why you would want to use a battery module.
All of our Binaural microphones are compatible with any of our battery/filter
modules (except for micro binaurals).

Interchangeable elements
Aside from superior specs and performance, the Premium microphones have
optional interchangeable mic elements available, each with it's own pickup
pattern: Cardioid, Hyper-cardioid, Sub-cardioid, Omni-directional and
Mini-shotgun. Each additional element is sold separately, and two are
needed for a stereo set. Mic elements are available here.

The Hyper-cardioid and Mini-shotgun elements allows the recordist to
make excellent recordings from greater distances than even the Cardioids
will allow. When compared to an Omni directional element, a recording
made with hyper Cardioid microphones will sound as is if the microphones
were much closer to the sound source. This can be a great advantage when
making recordings from a distance. They will also do a great job of reducing
unwanted audience noise from the sides and rear. The Sub-cardioid elements
are great to use when the acoustics of the venue you are recording in
are good, but you want to get rid of some of the crowd noise. They are
basically a compromise between an Omni and Cardioid element.

Cable and connector details
Our shielded microphone cable on our microphones is manufactured by Audio
Technica. These microphone cables are terminated in a standard 1/8"
gold plated stereo mini plug, unless otherwise noted. Some microphone
sets, especially those with very small mic element, use a flexible of
small diameter terminated in a right angle stereo mini plug. All of these
electret condenser microphones require a power source to turn them 'on'......a
there are two common ways to power them. The first is to plug them into
any recorder (DAT, MiniDisc, Camcorder, or other) that supplies a bias
voltage of between 1.5 and 10 Volts DC (commonly known as "plug-in-power")
at the microphone input jack. This configuration allows recordists to
use the microphones directly into the recorder when recording less demanding
subject material (where the sound level will not be extremely loud or
bassy). However, for optimum performance in loud situations, these mics
can be used in conjunction with one of our battery modules that supplies
these microphones (or any similar microphones from another manufacturer)
with the optimum bias voltage of 9 volts D.C. This additional power allows
the microphones to reproduce the louder sound waves without overloading,
causing distortion of the sound. This powering scheme works with most
electret condenser microphones, but not all. Those that don't work this
way are noted in the detail area of each item.

Sound QualityThe
Sound Professionals Binaural microphone systems have an extended frequency
response and a very natural and accurate sound, providing deep, solid
bass, smooth midrange and clean highs. They have a very wide dynamic range,
and will handle very high sound pressure levels without distortion or
clipping. (See details above for more info). When combined with one of
the battery modules, they are designed to operate into a nominal impedance
of 10K Ohms.

1- What are the differences between Binaural and Cardioid mics?
Binaural microphones are miniature Omni-directional microphones,
used in pairs, placed on either side of a human (or artificial) head and
placed in, or as near as possible to, the ears. Omnidirectional mics pick
up sound in all directional fairly equally, so when they are used in this
manner, they pick up sound very much like the human ear does. Note:
These same microphones are also capable of making stereo recordings.

Cardioid microphones are Uni-directional microphones and pick
up sound mostly in the direction you point them. They cannot be used to
make binaural recordings, but can, of course, be used to make stereo recordings.
Because of this directionality, they have certain advantages over Omni-directional
mics in some situations.

2- How can a Binaural mic be used to make a stereo recording?
Basically, by moving omnidirectional microphones away from one's head
and separating them by at least 6-8" or so, you will get a stereo
recording instead of a binaural one.

3- I like to listen to my recordings with speakers, not headphones.
Which mics are right for me?
If you mostly listen to your recordings with speakers (at home, in the
car, with a boom box, etc.), you would get better results if you made
stereo recordings instead of binaural recordings. Binaural recordings
sound best when listened to through headphones. You can use Binaural or
Cardioid mics to make stereo recordings. However, one exception to this
is the SP-TFB-2
In-Ear Binaurals, which sound excellent with headphones or speakers.

4- When is it advantageous to use Omni-directional mics?
When you are recording in a venue that has good acoustics, the audience
is fairly quiet and you are fairly close to the sound source, Omni-directional
mics are capable of make excellent recordings and would be the mic of
choice. Omni mics also are more forgiving of handling noise and wind noise,
so are a good choice if you can't secure your mics firmly or have to record
in windy situations and don't want to use large windscreens.

In addition, when you need a good sounding mic and have a limited budget,
Omni mics would be a better choice as cardioid mics of the same quality
cost 2 to 3 times as much as omnis.

5- When is it advantageous to use Cardioid mics?
When you are recording in a venue that does not have great acoustics,
the audience is noisy and/or you can't get close to the sound source,
Cardioids are the better mics to use.

Since Cardiods are directional mics, they will greatly reduce excess
reflected sound coming at the mics from all over the venue. They do a
good job of reducing unwanted audience noise from the sides are rear.
While they can be used up close with excellent results, they excel over
Omni mics when recording from a distance. In fact, there are different
levels of directionality available, including Sub-cardioid, (regular)
Cardioid, Hyper-cardioid and Super-Cardioid (sometimes called shotgun)
mics. In general, the further you are from the sound source, the more
directional the mic should be.

Cardioids are also the preferred mic to use on stage for sound reinforcement
applications, since they are less likely to feedback through a PA system.
On the downside, cardioids are more susceptable to handling and wind noise,
so if you can't secure your mics firmly or have to record in windy situations
and don't want to use large windscreens, omni's would be a better choice.

6- I need one set of mics to handle all of my recording situations.
What kind of mic should I use?
Overall, Cardioid microphones offer more flexibility that Binaurals in
that they can be used in a wider choice of applications. If you have many
different recording situations and need one mic type to do them all, use
Cardioids.

7- I want to record some really loud music. Which is the better type
of mic to use?

Both Omnidirectional and Cardioid mics are capable of recording very
loud music. There are other considerations, outside of the scope of this
FAQ. See our battery
module FAQ for more information on this subject.

8- I am going to record a loud concert at a large arena. What would
be the right mics to use?

If you are going to be very close to the sound source, omni's or Cardioids
would work well. However, if you are going to be a little further back
(about 20 to 75 feet from the sound source), Cardioids would be a better
choice. If you will be even further back, Hypercardioids or Shotguns would
be the mic of choice. Some mics, like the Sound Professionals Premium
and Slimline Cardioids have interchangeable elements that offer these
choices without having two different sets of mics for different purposes.

9- Why do you call miniature Omnidirectional mics "Binaural microphones"
Are you trying to confuse people?

No, but all of this can be quite confusing. The reason mini omni
mics are sometimes called binaurals is that over the years, in the industry,
these little omni mics have simply become known as "Binaurals".

Really, what they would be more accurately called is "dual channel
miniature omnidirectional microphones that are capable of making
binaural or stereo recordings", but we might grow old having to say
that each time, so we just shorten it to "binaurals".